Recorder for telegraphic messages.



R. G. FORD. RECORDER FOR TELEGRAPHIC MESSAGES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 21. I915.

Patented May 21,1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I Ellu 10H: mwm

R. 6. FORD. RECORDER ron TELEGRAPHIC MESSAGES,

APPLICATION HLED JAN 2|. I916.

Patented May 21,1918.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2 llllilllll ll $51 alumna R. 6. FORD. neconommn TELEGRAPHIC MESSAGES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 2|. I 9l6. 1,267,068. Patented May 2|,191&

3 SHEET$$HEET 3. 7?? 7- 1mm G. FORD, 013 BROOKLYN, NEW YORK,

ASSIGNOR OF ONE-TENTH TO WILLIAM J.

BARKLEY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

RECORDER FOR TELEGRAIPHIC MESSAGES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 21, 1918.

Application flied January 21, 1916. Serial No. 73,808.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, REID G. Fonn, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Recorder for Telegraphic Messages, of which the following is a specification, reference bein had to the accompanying drawings, in w ich- Fi re 1 is a section, partly in elevation, showing apparatus embodying "by invention; Fig. 2 is a plan of the apparatus contained in the casing; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the tape-feeding mechanism; Fig. 4 is an end elevation thereof; Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the tape-supporting mechanism; Fig. 6 is a detail of the drum upon which the unused tape is mounted, and Fig. 7 is a diagram of the electric circuits, showing their relation to the operative parts of my apparatus.

y invention relates to recorders for telegraphic Inessages, particularly on wireless systems, and consists in mechanism connected with the sendin instrument by which a complete record 0% all messages sent is automatically taken. My invention is particularly useful in connection with sending instruments on board ships, and enables a complete record to be taken of every message sent. The mechanism is contained in a sealed or locked box, which prevents the operator from tampering with the apparatus and thus interfering with the reiability of the record taken. In this way, not only is a complete record of every message kept, but it compels compliance with the regulations and-shows whether the operator is efficient or ineflicient. My inven tion also consists in the construction and cooperation ,of the parts which I shall hereinafter describe and claim.

Referring to the drawings, 2 indicates a. container or box for the operative parts of the mechanism which I am about to describe, havin secured thereto the standards 3, upon whic is mounted a tape-supplyin drum 4 supporting a roll of tape 6 of bla recording paper, and a second or receiving drum 5, upon which the tape 6, after the messages have been recorded upon it, is intended to be wound. From the drum 4 the tape 6 is led through a slot 7 into the interior of the container. Within the container the tape passes through a punch guide 8,

in which the messages are intended to be impressed on the tape, then around the idler pulley 9 to the driven ulley 10, by which the tape is fed forwar ly. It then passes around the idler 11, out of the box, through the slot 12, and over the surface of the tape on the drum 4, around the idler 13 positioned between and in contact with the drums 4 and 5 or the tape on the drums, and thence onto the drum 5. When the tape has been attached to the drum 5 and is being fed ofl of the drum 4, the movement of the drum 4 will drive the idler 13 in the opposite direction, and the drum 5 will in turn be oppositely driven by the idler 13, so that, as the tape feeds from the drum 4, it will automatically wind up the tape on which a record has been impressed on the drum 5.

The tape-impressing mechanism, as is shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 7, preferably consists in a frame 8, which has at one end a die 14, across which the tape travels through the slot 15 in the guide. Mounted to reciprocate in suitable bearings in the guide 8 is a punch 16, having a spring 17 thereon. As the spring 17 bears at one end against the frame and at the other end against a collar 18 on the punch 16, it will normally hold the punch away from the tape and die 14, across which the tape travels. The actuating mechanism for the punch consists in a pair of magnets 19, by which an endwise pull is exerted on an armature 20, which, when so actuated, moves forwardly and strikes the rear end of the punch 16, forcing it forwardly against the compression of the spring 17, to strike and perforate the tape against the die 14.

The mechanism for feeding the tape, as is shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, consists in the driven pulley 10 fixed to a shaft 21. which hasalso loosely mounted thereon a ratchet gear 22. Keyed to the shaft 21 is a bushing 23. and connecting' the bushing 23 and the gear 22 is a spira spring 24, by which motion imparted to the gear 22 is transmitted to the shaft 21, and by it to the pulley 10. Also loosely mounted on the shaft 21 is an arm 25, which carries a pawl 26 by which the gear is rotated. The arm 25 is supported at its outer end by a spring 27, which permits the arm 25 to be reclprocated vertically and thereby actuate, through the pawl 26, the gear 22 by its toothed engagement circuit B therewith. The gear-22 is held from counterclockwise movement by a pawl 28. The mechanism for reciprocating the arm 25 consists in an L-shaped member 29, which is secured to the armature 30 and, as electrical current is ap lied to the magnets 31, the armature 30 w1ll draw down y its L- shaped piece 29 the arm 25, and will thus actuate the gear 22 through the pawl 26.

To enable the shaft 21 to operate at a substantially constant speed, I emplo a governor, as is shown in Figs. 2 an 3, which consists in a sleeve 32 loosely mounted on the shaft 21, a collar 33 secured to one end of the sleeve, a collar 34 loosely mounted on the other end of the sleeve, and a disk 35 attached to the collar 34. Secured to the collars and about the sleeve are a plurality of flat plate springs 36, of which I have shown three. Attached to the plate sprin s 36 at their middle portions are weights 3 Motion is transmitted from the gear 38 on the shaft 21 to the gear 39 on the sleeve 32 by the speed-increasing gears 40 and 41, which are mounted on the shaft 42. When the shaft 21 is set in motion it will be seen that the sleeve, through the gears 38, 39, 40 and 41, will be driven at a much higher rate of speed, and as the sleeve revolves the weights 37 will move outwardly andwill thus draw the disk 35 against the friction stop 43, which will prevent too hi h speed being attained, and in this way t e speed of the shaft 21 will be regulated. The speed at which the shaft 21 rotates may be regulated by making the stop 43 adjustable relative to the disk 35.

The parts which I have now described are preferably operated in connection with the usual alternating current sending circuit, such as I have indicated at A, the energy to which is supplied by the alternating current generator 45, as is shown in Fig. 7. The sending key is indicated at 46.

Having now set forth a construction embodying my invention, I will now describe its operation, which is best shown in Fig. 7.

When, in the act of transmitting, the key 46 is closed, the path of the current leads through the rela 47 actuatin such relay and thus contro ling the locfi circuit B, through which the tape-punching and tapedrivin mechanisms are actuated. Thus, when t e key 46 is closed and relay magnet 47 is energized, the path of the current in eads through battery 48, magnet 19, armature 20, plunger and frame 49, magnet 31, arm of relay 47, thus completin the circuit. -With the closing of the loca circuit B the tape-punching magnet 19 and driving magnet 31 are actuated simultaneously. The armature 20 moves forwardly and drives the punch 16 through the tape 6, and the armature 30 moves downward and rotates the pulley 10, as is hereinafter described. When the armature 20 has driven the punch 16 through the tape, the

original position, will reestablish t e local.

circuit B by closing the circuit at 51, and renergize the magnets 19 and 31. The openin and re'elstablishing of the circuit as above described will cause a quick succession of blows of the punch through the tape, so that, if the sending stroke is long continued, an elongated slot will be cut in the tape, the length of the slot bein determined by the duration of the time uring which the key 46 is held down. The record made on the tape will correspond to the signals which are being transmitted.

Each interruption of the circuit B, occasioned between the armature 20 and the plunger 49, is reproduced with regard to the magnets 31 by the actuation of the armature 30, so that for each such interruption there is a consequent actuation of the arm 25 and the pawl 26, to rotate the gear 22 in a clockwise direction. As described above, the gear 22 is loosely mounted on the shaft 21, and the connection between the shaft 21 and the gear 22 consists in the spring 24 which, with each movement of the gear when actuated by the armature 30. stores up power for actuation of the shaft 21, the speed of which is regulated by the governor.

To insure a correct record of all signals transmitted and particularly to prevent the o erator from tampering with the mechamsm and thereby interfering with a proper record being taken, I provide a short circuit device, which prevents the transmission of signals while the mechanism is inoperative. The mechanism used in connection with the short circuiting device consists in an id ler, 9. mounted on a pivot bar 53, which is normally maintained in lowermost position by the weight of the idler at one end and the upward pull of the spring 54 near its opposite end. If the end of the tape is reached. or if the tape jams on the drum 4 and, at the same time continues to be fed forwardly by the driven pulley 10, the tape 6 will lift the bar 53 and bring its rear end into hearing with the contact 55, thereby completing the supplementary circuit C around the sending key and short-circuiting it. The whole device will thus be out of action until the tape is freed sufficiently to permit the idler 9 to drop to normal or lowermost position. For the purpose of increasing or loy the cause the transmitting apparatus to become and remain inoperative until a new roll has been provided and secured at one end to Ehe old tape and at the other end to the In that most radio transmission sets employ an alternating current of electricity of very high frequency, and in that very little magnetic energy can be obtained from such a source of energy, I employ a relay -17, through which the key 46 controls the local circuit B.

The terms and expressions which I have employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and I have no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding any mechanical equivalents of the features shown and described, or portions thereof, but recognize that various structural modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

\Vhat I claim is:

1. In a device for recording telegraphic messages a circuit containing a sending instrument, a recording tape and a tape impressing means, a secondary circuit controlled by the closing of the first circuit containing electro-magnetic means for actuating the tape impressi device, a supplementary circuit adapte to be connected with the first-named circuit, and means 01peratcd by the tape for utilizing the supp mcntary circuit and thereby effecting the operation of the sending instrument when the tape ceases to feed normally.

2. In a device for recording tel raphic messages, a circuit containing a sen ing instrument, a recording tape and a tape-impressing member; a secondary circuit, controlled by the closing of the first circuit, containing electro-magnetic means for actuating the tape-impressing device, an open supplementary circuit adapted to be connected with the first-named circuit, and means operated by the tape for closing the supplementary circuit and thereby short circuiting the sending instrument, when the ta pc ceases to feed normally.

3. In a device for recording tele raphic messages. a circuit containing a sen ing instrument. a recording ta 9, a tape-impressing member and a tape- .eedin device, and a secondary circuit. controlled by the closing of the first circuit, containing electromagnetic means for actuating the tape-impressing member and other electro-magnetic means for actuating the tape-feeding device.

4. In a device for recording telegraphic messages, a sending instrument, a container inclosmg a tape-impressing member and a. tape-feeding device, a. roll of tape mounted on the outside of the container and adapted to be fed through the container and the tape-impressi member by the tape-feeding device, an means for withdrawing the tape from the container after the messages sent have been impressed upon it, said container comprising means for preventin tampering with the tape impressing and tape feeding devices. I

5. In mechanism for recording tel raphic messages, a recording tape, tape feeding means comprising a pulley driven by a shaft, a gear, and a yielding connection between the gear and the shaft, and electromagnetic means for actuating the pulley shaft throu h the gear.

6. In mec anism for recording telegraphic messages, a recording tape, tape feeding means comprisin a pulley driven by a shaft, a gear, a yielding connection between the gear and the shaft, and a governor on said shaft to regulate the speed thereof, and means for actuating said gear.

7. In mechanism for recording telegra hie messages,a sending instrument, a drum aving a roll of tape mounted thereon, a ta 0 impressing member and a tape-feeding evice, and means for preventing the feeding of the tape through the mechanism when the end of the tape has been reached, said means consisting of a connection between the end of the tape and the drum.

8. In mechanism for recording telegraphic messages on tape, a sending instrument, means for feeding the ta e, and means controlled by the tape for s ort-circuitin the sending instrument upon a failure 0% the tape to feed normally.

9. In mechanism for recording telegraphic messages on tape, a tape-impressing membcr comprising a spring-pressed punch, a spring-pressed plunger, and an armature adapted to reciprocate the punch and the plunger alternatel 10. In mechanism for recording telegraphic messages on tape, a sending instrument. a tape-feeding mechanism comprising a pulley driven by a shaft, :1 gear, a yielding connection between the gear and the shaft, and means controlled by the sendi instrument for actuating the pulley sha through the gear.

REID G. FORD. 

